Government shifting burden of quarantine hubs to the regions

‘It makes sense to shift the returning travellers’ risk from big to smaller communities.’

Groom MP Grath Hamilton talks to media about the Wagners plan for a COVID quarantine hub next to the Wellcamp Airport, Monday, January 25, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The State Government is attempting to shift the accident prone Covid quarantine centres from its coastal front yard to our rural backyard because of the clever little virus’s ability to escape into the community on the backs of cleaners, security guards and quarantine shirkers.

It makes sense to shift the returning travellers’ risk from big to smaller communities.

The government, wider community, and those companies in charge of building and running the camps will benefit.

If not done correctly, however, such a move will unacceptably endanger the economic future of the smaller communities hosting the facilities.

Unfortunately, the requirement for an international airport and logistic facilities in proximity does not permit locations such as, say, the centre of the Simpson Desert being chosen.

“Doing it correctly” will involve considerable expense requiring actions as follow.

● Close supervision by government and/or military officials of the financially driven private companies in charge of building and running the centres.

● The presumption that the close contact staff become infected requiring quarantine before returning home after work. This would require a large staff on a quasi fly-in fly-out schedule and accompanying above standard remuneration.

● Strict penalties for breach of protocol procedures.

● Creation of a Special Economic Zone around the centres.

Should the virus escape requiring lockdown as has so often happened, the Federal Government would invoke zone funding to preserve the well being of local industry and workers.

This would be similar to the 2020 Job Keeper allowance but with a better deal for businesses to prevent bankruptcy.

If the Federal and State Government are not prepared to accept the cost of “doing it right”, then obviously the risk is too big for a small community like Toowoomba to go it on its own.

Local residents should then oppose the centres being moved near their communities. All going well, these procedures could also form a quarantine model for whatever comes next after Covid.

GARY RENGERS, Cabarlah

Originally published as Government shifting burden of quarantine hubs to the regions